The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-23
PRAYER Or PROPHECY!
A Remarkable .osversstioa With Lincoln
BY an Ex-Gatholic Priest.

BY an Ex-GathOlic Priest
By Judge Stephen +. Moore, Eankankee, Ill.
The consecutive and weIl-trimmed article
concerning Presidential candidates by the
Rev. DR.. r. M. Hatfield, in recent issue
of the Journal, calls to my mind a most
remarkable passage found In book lately
published by Father Chiniquy, an ex-
priest OF Rome, but Presbyterian
minister since 1850. Father Chiniquy
was an intimate friend of President
Lincoln, who was his lawyer, and he has
spent twelve years of his life investigating
the mysterious and secret circumstances
connected with the horrible crime which
deprived the country of her greatest hero,
and changed our joys of oSr national tri-
umph in war into unspeakable desoiation
the 14th day of April, 1865.
And what is the result of that investiga-
ton? Every American citizen should read
the facts collated by Father Chinieuy and
Judge for himself. He has collected re-
maIkable array of facts on tie assassins-
ton of the President and his Cabinet. He
follows Booth and Surratt. Harold and
Payne from the formation of the eonspira-
cy to the last act in the tragedy. He
publishes many facts never before
given to the public. He shows by evil
dence which cannot be controverted,
by afidavits of living witnesses, that the
very day of the assassination, n st. Joseph,
Mimi, at O'Clock in the evening, ii was
publicly talked of that Secretary OF State
Seward and Lincoln had been assassinated.
at that time there were no railroad lines
nearer than forty msles, nor any telegraph
offices nearer than eighty miles from st.
Joseph. 1t would make this article too
long to follow the evidence which Father
Cbiniouy gathered and lately published
concerning the awful crime of Booth,
showing how ii was known and publicly
talked of in a remote village In Minnesota
three and one-half hours before it occurred
in Washington. 80
The last meeting Father Chiniguy had
with President Lincoln was June 8, 1864.
He told Father Chiniquv that he would
not live ito eat the fruits OF that peace
for which am longing with such an I'M
speakable desire" There is a still, but
solemn voice." said the President. (which
tells me that 1 will see those things only
from q long distance, anG that / will be
among the eead when the nation, which
God granted me to lead through those aw-
full trials, will cross the Jordan and dwell
in that land of promise, where peace, in
dustry, happiness ana liberty Will make
every one happy"
At the close of this interview President
Lincoln uttered this remarkable prophecy
CT prayer, which can be placed among the
most suhllme words ever fallen from a
mans lips;
but Just as the Lord heard no murmur
from the lips of Moses when He told him
that he. lad to die before crossing the 'Jor-
dan, for the sins of his people. so J hope and
pray that he will hear no murmur from
me when I fall for my nations sake. The
only two favors ask of the Lord are: First,
that l may die for the sacred cause IN
which i am engaged, and while am the
Standard bearer of the rights and Liberties
OF my country. The second favor that /
ask from God is, that my dear son Robert,
when am gone, will be one
of those who shall lift up that flag of lib
erty which shall cover my tomb, and carry
it with honor and fidelity to the end of his
life, as his father did, surrounded by the
millions who will be called with him to
fight and die for the defense and honor OF
his country"